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Ashes tour: Ian Bell proud after century for England against Australia

England batsman Ian Bell was a proud man after scoring his 18th Test century to put the hosts in a strong position.

Last Updated: 14/07/13 7:35am

Bell's 109 - his first home Ashes ton - provided the backbone to England's second innings total of 375 which set Australia a victory target of 311 at Trent Bridge.

"It's a great feeling to score a Test match 100," he said. "You talk about it in the dressing room and it means a lot to everyone in the 11. It's a real proud moment.

"I think it's certainly my best Ashes innings. It was nice to put an innings together when the team needed it most and to play an innings like that in that situation, using some different skills on a slow pitch with a reverse ball, it was different and I really enjoyed it.

"With the ball reversing I was trying to play it as late as possible and the plan was to hit it as straight as possible and to time the ball short. You want to play it as late as possible and use the pace.

Brilliant

"It's been a brilliant Test match and today hasn't disappointed either. It's really exciting to come back tomorrow morning with all results possible."

Bell insisted England had not been too concerned after Shane Watson and Chris Rogers gave Australia a flying start to their second innings with an opening stand of 84, before the tourists stumbled to 174-6 at stumps.

He added: "I think we believed the easiest part to bat was going to be the new ball and as that ball got softer and started to reverse it was going to be harder to score.

"I thought Australia played outstandingly well but we pulled it back really well in the last session."